Outland PR application for spouse

[rouhan007]

Hi,
I’m getting married in July 2025 and currently reside and work in Ontario as a permanent resident (PR). I plan to sponsor my spouse for PR after our marriage. Since my spouse lives in India, I am considering the Outland sponsorship route.
My question is:
1. After my spouse submits her PR application and receives the Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR), can she apply for a visitor visa and move to Canada to stay with me while her PR application is being processed?
2. If she comes to Canada on a visitor visa will she have to go back for her biometrics and medical to India or will she be able to compete them in Canada?

Thanks!

 

[armoured]

1. Yes, if she gets the visa.
2. No, can do them anywhere in world.

 

[rouhan007]

1. Yes, if she gets the visa.
2. No, can do them anywhere in world.

Thanks.

 

[praveshgupta1993]

Hi, I have a similar query.
If the wife is in Canada on visitor visa while the husband is PR holder, can husband apply for work permit of wife from within Canada while the PR application of wife from outside Canada is in progress? If yes, can wife start working while waiting after applying for work permit?
If the visitor visa of wife expires, can husband apply for visitor visa extension?

Below are some of the references I found
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...vices/work-canada/permit/temporary/apply.html
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...mmon-law-partner-canada-open-work-permit.html

Thanks

 

[scylla]

Hi, I have a similar query.
If the wife is in Canada on visitor visa while the husband is PR holder, can husband apply for work permit of wife from within Canada while the PR application of wife from outside Canada is in progress? If yes, can wife start working while waiting after applying for work permit?
If the visitor visa of wife expires, can husband apply for visitor visa extension?

Below are some of the references I found
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...vices/work-canada/permit/temporary/apply.html
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...mmon-law-partner-canada-open-work-permit.html

Thanks

Once you have AOR for the spousal sponsorship application and the wife is in Canada, the wife can apply for an OWP. No, the wife cannot start working as soon as she applies for the OWP. She must wait for the OWP to be approved and issued.

 

[praveshgupta1993]

Once you have AOR for the spousal sponsorship application and the wife is in Canada, the wife can apply for an OWP. No, the wife cannot start working as soon as she applies for the OWP. She must wait for the OWP to be approved and issued.

Thank you scylla for the prompt reply
Would it be OWP or SOWP application? Is the wife on visitor visa is considered a temporary resident?
If the PR application of wife is from outside Canada, she is on visitor visa, and work permit application is started from inside the Canada, can the whole process of PR application be carried out from inside Canada (like biometrics, passport submission or any other documentation work) ?

 

[praveshgupta1993]

Hi,

Processing time of spouse work permit from outside Canada is 15 weeks but from inside Canada is 34 weeks. I was thinking to start the work permit application of wife from outside Canada, my wife comes with me on visitor visa and then we wait and carry out the work permit process from inside Canada and do the rest of the documentation from inside Canada? Is it okay to think this way? If I start the work permit application from outside Canada, she can not come or have to go back to complete the process?

 

[scylla]

Thank you scylla for the prompt reply
Would it be OWP or SOWP application? Is the wife on visitor visa is considered a temporary resident?
If the PR application of wife is from outside Canada, she is on visitor visa, and work permit application is started from inside the Canada, can the whole process of PR application be carried out from inside Canada (like biometrics, passport submission or any other documentation work) ?

OWP not SOWP. Yes, being in Canada on a TRV is considered a temp resident.

Yes, you can complete the process inside of Canada.

 

[scylla]

Hi,

Processing time of spouse work permit from outside Canada is 15 weeks but from inside Canada is 34 weeks. I was thinking to start the work permit application of wife from outside Canada, my wife comes with me on visitor visa and then we wait and carry out the work permit process from inside Canada and do the rest of the documentation from inside Canada? Is it okay to think this way? If I start the work permit application from outside Canada, she can not come or have to go back to complete the process?

Your wife needs to be in Canada when the OWP application is submitted and the application needs to be submitted from within Canada. If you try to play games with the process, it's just going to end up delaying things.

 

[praveshgupta1993]

Thank you scylla for being informative and helpful

 

[canuck78]

Hi,

Processing time of spouse work permit from outside Canada is 15 weeks but from inside Canada is 34 weeks. I was thinking to start the work permit application of wife from outside Canada, my wife comes with me on visitor visa and then we wait and carry out the work permit process from inside Canada and do the rest of the documentation from inside Canada? Is it okay to think this way? If I start the work permit application from outside Canada, she can not come or have to go back to complete the process?

The posted processing time for inland application doesn’t actually reflect the processing time people are experiencing. Nobody knows why it is so high but would suggest looking at some recent applicants and processing times are not 34 weeks. There is some variability between processing times and some spouses from certain citizenships tend to have longer processing g times than others. Spouses from Iran and Pakistan seem to be some examples of on average longer processing times. If your spouse wants the ability to be able to travel outside of Canada during processing applying Outland is still a good idea. Once your spouse is in Canada and has received AOR from their sponsorship application they can then apply for an OWP. The OWP application will give them implied status on their visitor record. If your spouse has not applied for OWP after visiting for 6 months (less if they are given a shorter visit) they will need to apply to extend their status as a visitor in order to continue to have status in Canada.